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蠢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
蠢
chǔn
stupid
HSK 7, a, 21 strokes, radical 虫, rank #1160, Very Hard
蠢
chǔn
to wriggle; stupid, silly, fat
HSK 7, a, 21 strokes, radical 虫, rank #1160, Very Hard
蠢
chǔn
clumsy
HSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, radical 虫, rank #1160, Very Hard
蠢
chǔn
to wiggle (of worms)
HSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, radical 虫, rank #1160, Very Hard
蠢
chǔn
to move in a disorderly fashion
HSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, radical 虫, rank #1160, Very Hard
chǔn(chun3)chun T3
1stupid
2to wriggle; stupid, silly, fat
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March 24, 2026
蠢(惷)chǔn(chun3)
The character 蠢 (chǔn) primarily means 'stupid' or 'silly.' It can also refer to the clumsy or awkward movements, often associated with wriggling or wiggling, similar to how worms move. This word is commonly used in informal contexts to describe someone's foolish behavior or lack of intelligence.
Strokes21Radical虫Frequency#1160DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, calling someone 蠢 can be more than just a comment on intelligence; it can also imply a lack of common sense or awareness, highlighting social expectations for cleverness and wisdom.
Memory tip
Picture a large, slow worm (蠢) that struggles to move quickly, which represents the idea of being clumsy or stupid. The character has the '虫' (insect) radical, reminding you of creatures like worms that wriggle awkwardly.
Meanings of 蠢
chǔn(chun3)
1stupid
2to wriggle; stupid, silly, fat
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 蠢 means.
About 蠢
蠢Simplified
惷Traditional
21Strokes
虫Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1160Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5BCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 蠢
Podcast: 蠢
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AI study notes for 蠢
Quick Contrast
愚 (yú) - use 蠢 (chǔn) for a more informal or playful tone, while 愚 (yú) is more formal and serious.
Usage Notes
When using 蠢 in conversation, be aware that it carries a negative connotation and can be insulting if directed at a person. It is typically used in informal settings. Common collocations include 蠢事 (stupid things) and 蠢动 (to wriggle), but avoid using it in formal situations.
HSK Study Tips
Although 蠢 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it may be relevant for learners at HSK 3 or higher, as they begin to explore more complex adjectives. Focus on recognizing its meaning in context and how it may relate to other words describing behavior or intelligence.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蠢 (chǔn) with 笨 (bèn), assuming they are interchangeable. However, 笨 is slightly less harsh and can refer more to clumsiness than stupidity. Ensure you use 蠢 when you specifically want to imply foolishness.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蠢
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Tone practice
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How well do you know 蠢?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 蠢 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
蠢 = 虫 + 春. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 蠢
IDS Structure⿱春⿰虫虫
蠢Full character
=
春chun1
top
虫chong2
left
虫chong2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 蠢?
How to say stupid in Chinese
“stupid” in Chinese is蠢chǔn
The character 蠢 (chǔn) primarily means 'stupid' or 'silly.' It can also refer to the clumsy or awkward movements, often associated with wriggling or wiggling, similar to how worms move. This word is commonly used in informal contexts to describe someone's foolish behavior or lack of intelligence.
When to use 蠢
When using 蠢 in conversation, be aware that it carries a negative connotation and can be insulting if directed at a person. It is typically used in informal settings. Common collocations include 蠢事 (stupid things) and 蠢动 (to wriggle), but avoid using it in formal situations.
蠢 or something close to it
愚 (yú) - use 蠢 (chǔn) for a more informal or playful tone, while 愚 (yú) is more formal and serious.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蠢 (chǔn) with 笨 (bèn), assuming they are interchangeable. However, 笨 is slightly less harsh and can refer more to clumsiness than stupidity. Ensure you use 蠢 when you specifically want to imply foolishness.
Write 蠢
蠢
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Practice writing 蠢 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 蠢
蠢 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我真应该跟我这些愚____的朋友理论理论！
I shall have words with these stupid friends of mine!
He always believes those silly rumors, which is truly exasperating.
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Cultural Notes for 蠢
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While calling someone 'stupid' in Western cultures can be direct, in Chinese culture, using 蠢 often reflects deeper social dynamics and can imply a broader judgment of someone's abilities or awareness.
Word Family of 蠢
Words containing this character11
蠢chǔnstupid
愚蠢yúchǔnsilly
蠢货chǔnhuòblockhead蠢貨
蠢蠢欲动chǔnchǔnyùdòngto get restless蠢蠢欲動
蠢事chǔnshìfolly
蠢人chǔnrénfool
蠢驴chǔnlǘsilly ass蠢驢
蠢材chǔncáiidiot
蠢动chǔndòngto wriggle蠢動
蠢才chǔncáiidiot
蠢笨chǔnbènstupid
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 蠢
What does 愚蠢 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 蠢
No, 蠢 is informal and is generally used in casual conversations.
It's best to avoid using 蠢 for someone you admire, as it can be considered derogatory.
Synonyms include 笨 (bèn), which also means 'stupid,' but has different connotations.
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